I don’t know about you, but I’m not too clear-headed about the appointment where I got my initial myeloma diagnosis.

First of all, I suppose I should have taken it as an ominous sign when the hematologist/oncologist’s office called me and asked if I could be there in an hour.

Basically, this is really all I recall:

We went into the exam room, and the doctor sat on his little wheeled stool. Linda (my wife) and I sat in two chairs in front of him.

Doctor: You have …

Over the years, I have heard a large number of patients—and especially caregivers—aggressively defend their anti-myeloma therapy and treatment center choices.

At first I was confused by this. I didn't understand why others could become so upset and defensive over different therapy choices.

But the truth is: nearly every multiple myeloma patient and caregiver today has been placed in a horribly unfair and difficult position.

I'm not talking about our cancer—of course that isn’t fair! But I'm talking about the divergent therapy choices we are all expected to make.

Do I …

I like to look over other reader's comments after I read an article here at The Myeloma Beacon.

That's exactly what I did on Tuesday after reading Sean Murray’s column, Sean's Burgundy Thread: Staying Connected To Yourself While Living With Myeloma. If you haven't read Sean's columns yet, you should—it is a really fun read.

Sean and I both tend to be very proactive and positive when dealing with our cancer.

Anyway, I have noticed lots of similar comments following both of our columns recently. The consensus seems to be that …

In last month’s Myeloma Beacon article, I shared how important it has been during my two year fight against multiple myeloma to stay firmly ‘connected’ to my at-large health care team consisting of family, friends, caregivers, physicians, and other medical professionals all acting in concert on my behalf.

The herculean efforts of so many people and organizations to help myeloma patients like me survive this rare cancer have been both humbling and gratifying. Though the campaign moves on slowly, we have witnessed incremental advances in treatment in the last several years. …

Enduring cancer treatment—especially early on—can be painful and lonely. Having a great caregiver helps. But even then, a cancer patient often spends many hours alone getting x-rays, MRI’s and IV’s.

The one constant and saving grace for me has always been an oncology nurse. And I have had more than one good one, mind you. Wherever I have been treated, I have always received thoughtful, excellent care.

My nurses over the years have served as friends and counselors. They have listened when I needed support and given me pep talks when …

I had been putting off seeing a doctor for over a year. Not my oncologist, mind you. I’m talking about my primary care physician—or family doctor.

As soon as I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma three and a half years ago, my primary care physician, Dr. Carrie Smith, stepped aside, turning all of my care over to my medical oncologist and myeloma specialist.

It’s hard to argue with that—fighting multiple myeloma requires a doctor who devotes their full time to learning about and treating it.

At the time, someone like me was …

One of the universal bits of advice you’re going to get as a patient with multiple myeloma is that you need a good relationship with your doctor.

In a recent article, patient Kay Cromie of Burlington, Vermont, stressed to Myeloma Beacon writer Saniya Tabani the importance of developing a rapport with your doctor, so you can feel comfortable communicating your concerns, asking questions, and discussing treatment options with your doctor.

When I spoke a few weeks ago with Dr. Sergio A. Giralt at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, he said every patient …